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This post is inspired by one called 'Bali Tragedy' in the General Pattaya Board. It refers to other conflicts of religious background and asks "Why can't we all be Buddhists?" Just a simple answer: It's not a religion for the masses - and many doubt, it's a religion at all. On top of the basic idea of giving up all your desires except compassion (which means no less than 'to die while you live'), there's sets of rules translating that idea into daily life: One set for any human (incl. "not to kill"), one for normal buddhist believers (incl. "to reduce your sex drive, at least have no sexual contact with prostitutes") and one for monks (incl. "not to have food after noon"). This is not for everyone, you'll agree. And that's why even in so-called Buddhist societies, like Thailand, Japan and ... Bali, only some a small elite will be 'real' buddhists. Simply because with the sufferings of a daily life, it's sooo far. In Thailand, for example, you'll notice those small donations to the spirits along the road (or wherever). That's as little Buddhist as the japanes way of buying charms in a temple for good luck - one for passing an exam, another one for finding a new love etc. It's a blend Buddhism does with the local background, a bit like christianity did in Africa, South/Central America, North America and: ancient Greece/Europe(!), all of which are quite a way from the 'real Thing' which a certain Jesus of Nazareth created from his jewish background (or was it his followers, St. Peter most of all? ...) 'The real' Buddhism however does live in all these places, in the temples as well as with certain individuals - in an elite. Okay, enough for this place. Knowing that more has been written about Buddhism than Christianity, you might try to explain "why can someone be christian" in e few words and estimate how much is missing here. However, what would it mean? Getting back to our initial religious conflicts, I feel they are not actually that: In Yugoslavia, the religions have been living together. Not just have tensions been suppressed by 'the iron fist of Tito' but people actually lived together working, being friends, marrying. Just sometime later, somebody (Milosevic) equiped one group with guns and told it about it's superiority and a holy mission to get rid of 'the others'. And from there, violence and counterviolence escalated, despite some people trying to hold on to what they had before. Germany, before 1930, even more 1914: After the middle ages, the age of enlightenment had brought an integration of the jewish culture. In fact, most of the elite was jewish and hardly anybody noticed. Then, with economic downturn one group decided "we need a culprit - and it can't be our lovely politicians who started that bloody war, of course". So how about the Jews, who crucified our Christ anyway? Let's forget he was a jew himself for a moment... Northern Ireland: I don't know for sure, but i feel it's more about access to education and political powers, about having 'our father's land', about not being discriminted by those ugly drunken orange marchers - yes, about divorce and abortion - and most of all a "fair" police force than about praying to mary or not, having saints or not, having the religious headquarters in Westminster or Rome. Just two more: Arabs in pre 9-11 USA. Were they actually integrated, in the melting pot? What changed since then? And farangs and Arabs throughout the world - is it about the gods really? After all, Allah is the fucking same guy as Jahwe/Jehova/God! So what could it be? Basically, I feel the religions are not the problem. Moses, accepted as a prophet by all three monotheist religions, got a "Thee shall not kill! " from his god, the common god of Muslins, Christians, Jews. Four simple words, correctly translated into about any language. And not to be misunderstood really, am I right? So if there's one thing i blame these religions of, it's that they don't educate their followers to think for themself. Or is the religions? Or the organisations, churches, whatever? Now, what would happen if a buddhist leader calls out war? Japan did, China, Korea and Pearl Harbor remember. Yes, it was a Shinto government, but I didn't hear about any Buddhist opposition. Might be my lack of information, but my understanding is that a Buddhist WOULD NEVER kill someone else - but also hardly ever opposes something. And Thailand? It seems, the present king is a real wise man who avoids war and killings from his heart, actually does a buddhist policy. But: what if the king was someone else, maybe a dictator of Pol Pot type? Or Soharto? And: even there, a lot is left to do. Or how do you feel about a situation in which the young girls have to 'work' with (sometimes not as nice as you and me) farangs to feed a real large family?

Now that's a hot topic everywhere and we can't keep it off these boards - I don't even think we should. We're quite some 'community' here... Just please, all of us: Try to keep your minds clear before postings that offend others without justification. Not always what you see is the ultimate truth. I'll post something to the matters (also: "Why can't we all be Buddhists?) later - after thinking for a moment...

Steve, are u actually certain those ciggis went to customs? They (I suppose any 'civilised' at least) would leave some note. My experience is that in quite a few places around the world (in my case Bombay, 10 yrs back) there's folks on the airfields 'checking' your baggage for valuables as well - and taking them out, no matter about customs regulations > And you don't actually know, where that case went, do you? Might have been Nicaragua. That was pretty common for the baggage - space of thai overland busses as well...

Hi experienced travellers! According to their Website, Thai Airways limousine service also operate a bus from airport to pty for a competitive 200 Baht o/w. Any reasons for not using that ??? I've seen, it's only 3 Departures a day (9 a.m, 12 a.m., 7 p.m.) but i suppose those are after the intercontinental incoming rounds. Is it probably overbooked? Any advice and comments appreciated Andy

Greetings! Yes, this Is a lovely topic. Not exactly about clothing, but... Beeing long haired too, i think about cutting it almost every summer day. It's not so many of those here, but a Thailandtrip (haven't been there for some 10 years) would be a strong motivation. It's just 1 thing 'about guys who cut their hair just to find they don't have any anymore' ...